FoNR TALK Newport History of Newport RFC
History of Newport RFC
  • Players
  • Seasons
  • Games
  • Features
  • Audio / Visual
  • Progress
  • Snelling Sevens
  • Endorsements
  • About us
  • More
Previous:
1968-69
The 1969-70 Season
Next:
1970-71

After the great success of the previous season, 1969-70 was to be an anti-climax. Brian Price and Bill Morris had retired and Keith Jarrett had turned professional with Barrow Rugby League. Newport missed these key players although players like second rows Jeff Watkins and Len Martin, wing / fullback Laurie Daniel etc. played well.

Newport lost 17 games but still scored a record 720pts. Captain John Anthony scored 162pts and Laurie Daniel 166pts (top scorer) - the first time that 2 players had both scored over 150pts.

Peter Rees passed Ken Jones' try record when he scored 147 tries and going on to score 153 tries. He also became 7th Newport player to pass 300 appearances behind Ian Ford, Roy Burnett, George Boots and Brian Jones.

Newport scored a magnificent victory over the 6th touring Springboks on 12th October 1969 .

Barry Llewelyn played 5 times for Wales and then rejoined Llanelli at the end of the season. Vic Perrins and British Lion Billy Raybould, who had joined from London Welsh, also won caps. Laurie Daniel and John Jeffrey were top try scorers with 20 tries with Jeffrey setting a record for a forward. John Anthony made most appearances with 45.

The season had opened at Rodney Parade with the 'Croeso Sevens' to celebrate the Investiture of H.R.H. Prince Charles as Prince of Wales. The competitors were Bridgend, Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Newport. There was also a Youth competition with Bedwas, Cwmcarn, Newbridge and Newport. The programme Notes read as follows:-

"A multitude of celebrations have been put on for the Welsh public, visitors from home and abroad in this Investiture Year! Croeso '69 has been a great success and very rewarding for the various organisations catering for the enjoyment of all wishing to participate in the spirit of the occasion. We want to bring a touch of this spirit here today, so with the ready acceptances from Bridgend, Cardiff, and Monmouthshire R.F.C. this pre-season 7's idea was born."

"On 1st April, 1968 a similar 7's was run and was called on that occasion the "Memorial Sevens" to the memory of two great Newport rugby administrators, W. A. Everson and V. M. Griffiths. Those of you who came along witnessed a good evenings sport, when Bristol, Cardiff and Monmouthshire were our guests. In the programme J. B. G. Thomas (Western Mail) wrote an appreciation to both in a sentimental but nevertheless breezy manner that high lighted the devotion to the N.A.C. of Bill and Vince."

"Members and Season Ticket holders must pay to-day and all takings will be ear-marked to the Memorial Fund."

"A museum room has been started with previous monies to this cause. We are hoping that many more articles of interest will be handed over to swell the collection."

"Cardiff (the holders) will be engaged in the Harlequins' 7's next Saturday and are hoping to get valuable practice to-day to­wards their bid to retain their title. Bridgend are a knowledgable 7's team and with Monmouthshire fielding a strong side we shall be stretched to the limit. Bedwas, Newbridge and Cwmcarn Youth along with our own Youth will be appearing in between games in their own private "knock out" competition, so a galaxy of 10 games can be witnessed this afternoon."

"We play our Final Trial next Tuesday K.O. 6 p.m. and on Thursday K.O. 7.15 p.m. we open our regular programme against Penarth. This game has been brought forward from Saturday, 6th September because of the Croeso '69 game being staged in Cardiff that day between an East Wales XV and a West Wales XV."



  • Results
  • Squad
1
Newport
30
- 6Penarth
04 Sep
2
Newbridge
5
- 3Newport
08 Sep
3
Bristol Rugby
8
- 14Newport
13 Sep
4
Newport
8
- 6Pontypool
17 Sep
5
Neath
19
- 16Newport
20 Sep
6
Newport
14
- 13Bath Rugby
24 Sep
7
Newport
35
- 8Swansea
27 Sep
8
Newport
0
- 8Cardiff
04 Oct
9
Newport
21
- 9Hawick
06 Oct
10
Newport
47
- 11Blackheath
11 Oct
11
Newport
6
- 8Llanelli
15 Oct
12
Gloucester
21
- 6Newport
18 Oct
13
Newport
25
- 15Wasps
25 Oct
14
Newport
23
- 9Ebbw Vale
01 Nov
15
Cardiff
3
- 3Newport
08 Nov
16
Newport
11
- 6South Africa
12 Nov
17
Cambridge University
9
- 20Newport
15 Nov
18
London Welsh
12
- 3Newport
22 Nov
19
Newport
26
- 6Combined Services
03 Dec
20
Newport
13
- 8Bristol Rugby
08 Dec
21
Aberavon
6
- 14Newport
15 Dec
22
Harlequins
9
- 11Newport
20 Dec
23
Newport
26
- 3Watsonians
26 Dec
24
Ebbw Vale
14
- 13Newport
27 Dec
25
Swansea
9
- 11Newport
10 Jan
26
Newport
19
- 6Abertillery
17 Jan
27
Newport
9
- 9Neath
31 Jan
28
Newport
11
- 12Bridgend
09 Feb
29
Newport
3
- 9Cardiff
21 Feb
30
Newport
22
- 8Royal Navy
25 Feb
31
Blackheath
12
- 22Newport
27 Feb
32
Newport
24
- 9RAF
04 Mar
33
Cardiff
14
- 3Newport
07 Mar
34
Wasps
11
- 17Newport
14 Mar
35
Pontypool
16
- 13Newport
18 Mar
36
Newport
6
- 8Aberavon
23 Mar
37
Llanelli
0
- 14Newport
25 Mar
38
Newport
9
- 16Newbridge
28 Mar
39
Newport
6
- 15London Welsh
30 Mar
40
Newport
3
- 22Barbarians
31 Mar
41
Plymouth Albion
9
- 20Newport
04 Apr
42
Devonport Services
3
- 11Newport
06 Apr
43
Penarth
6
- 27Newport
09 Apr
44
Leicester Tigers
13
- 3Newport
11 Apr
45
Newport
45
- 9Gloucester
13 Apr
46
Cross Keys
6
- 29Newport
18 Apr
47
Bridgend
21
- 5Newport
27 Apr

Key
Image is available
Report is available
© 2003-2017, Friends of Newport Rugby Trust